You could also do a step-in post, with orange construction fencing very quickly. With something like that you don’t have to punish your dog with shocks, and there’s no legal liability for that. You might not be able to use electric in residential areas anyway. But I do think locking the gate with the combo for the landlord is a good idea. It also protects the stuff in the workshop or shed too.
[QUOTE=nashfad;5813126]
I’d notify the parents via certified return receipt letter to stop the problem from their side. I’d also notify CPS in writing (same way), if it persist and I’d notify the local police—again—in writing-----that you have asked them to rectify the situation from heir side. [/QUOTE]
Seriously? You would go to all that trouble and start all that drama rather than just keep the dog in the house when you aren’t home?
I must not have enough free time. :lol:
In looking at some of these posts I think maybe there needs to be a bit of clarifying.
You don’t call Child Protective Services or whatever it’s called in your area to report a little kid pestering your dog.
You contact Child Protective Services to discuss the fact that the parents appear to be chemically entertaining themselves while allowing a very young child to run unsupervised around the neighborhood “and by the way there’s a lot of speeding cars on the very busy street and this child could get hit by a car”. You follow it up with a letter. Just yesterday in Oregon there was a million dollar plus lawsuit filed on the behalf of a teenage girl who was systematically starved and beaten to death; mom who did it is on death row (google “Jeanette Maples” for further info); the lawsuit is against the State of Oregon CPS because it did nothing about years of abuse of this girl despite repeated calls from concerned neighbors and even the grandmother - and CPS is trying to claim there was no paper trail that could be produced by the grandmother of her alleged contacts with CPS. You need to complain about parental neglect involving controlled substances with a follow-up in writing for when - not if - these parents sue you.
And yes - whatever smartypants said it above - yes there ARE lawyers just waiting to pounce on this! And you know what? They will not only sue YOU but will name your landlord too because likely your landlord has more money and insurance than YOU do and lawyers know this (trust me - I’ve worked for 'em for about four decades and there is little I haven’t seen; they might not be able to WIN a lawsuit but you will still have to put a lawyer on YOUR payroll to defend yourself. Can you say $5K retainer and $300/hour? How does your after-tax income stack up against THAT???)
You don’t put up an electric fence because kid hits said fence when being attracted by your (legally defined) “attractive nuisance” of a dog. Result: lawsuit.
You are a civil suit defendant-in-waiting by not taking pro-active steps to protect your dog and yourself from parents who have shown themselves already to be irresponsible by their behavior. You are a large-vet-bill-dog-mom-in waiting because your dog needs protection from a well-meaning but very young and unsupervised visitor.
If you don’t want to lock your gates and put up a second-chance fence and formally notify your neighbors by letter in a very nice way that trespassing is unwelcome (and no a 5-year-old isn’t going to be able to read a posted sign) but scheduled visits with them accompanying the kid are welcome, then keep the dog in the house while you are gone. Cheapest, easiest solution.
Remember, “denial” isn’t just a river in Egypt. Say it outloud to yourself and believe it.
I hate this kind of thread.
There are two groups on this type of thread. There are the pragmatic and realistic types, who realize that there are shitty people who would take advantage of something going wrong in a HEARTBEAT. These neighbors would likely prove to be those people. Kiddo gets nipped/knocked down/scratched/etc? Lawsuit. Blammo. OP, you being nice to Kiddo in this situation gets you and your dog nowhere, fast.
The other group of people posting on this type of thread are the “help the Kiddo” people. You know what? SHE ISN’T THE OP’S KID. She is NOT the OP’s responsibility. The OP’s dog is the OP’s responsibility.
I’ll extend this thinking to the myriad of similar threads that pop up on COTH, regarding issues with neighbors/boarders/kids messing with YOUR horses/dogs/property. Protect what is yours, or you might lose it.
I think that there is truth to what asb says. Honestly, you can’t help but feel bad for the little girl in this case. I’m sure a lot of us were once animal-loving little kids.
Unfortunately, liability is a very real concern, as is the safety of dogs should they bite someone (or should someone say that they were bitten or nipped). I think that the need to ensure that this little girl is not interacting with the dog unsupervised is very, very real and something that should be taken seriously.
As for the dog being unsupervised, theoretically the dog is contained in his yard. Most people do not supervise dogs every minute of the day (that is why people do not get dogsitters every time they go to dinner without the dogs). I think that you should be able to leave a dog in a fenced yard with a padlocked gate and feel secure that no one will mess with the dog in his/her own yard. On the other hand, please, please be aware that dog theft does not only occur in bad neighborhoods. It is up, and labs are often targeted. I have started taking additional precautions with my own dogs, and I didn’t think theft was a serious risk before. I am changing my mind on that.
The fact that this little girl hooked something through the dog’s collar is a very real concern. The dog could panic if he starts to feel he is being choked (as would I). I hear a lot of average, everyday people respond to dog bites, nips, etc. by saying that they would sue. I am not talking about serious, go to the hospital and get all kinds of stitches bites, either. Please be careful.
[QUOTE=CrazyGuineaPigLady;5811885]
But, they might just take notice of an unsupervised dog and contact AC to ensure all the local laws are being followed.[/QUOTE]
A good point. I once pressed AC to do something about a very dangerous dog. They had no intention of doing anything, communicated with the cops, realized the owner was thick with the local cops, and so felt free to get nasty. Next time I called, they came back with the comment that my dog’s license wasn’t current, while the dangerous dog’s was. The threat was very clear - eff off, or we’ll start looking at you. Which I now realize is the point at which you have to abandon cops and start talking to politicians and reporters.
Yeah, it is sad but it’s not the OP’s responsibility or main concern. She could get her a$$ sued off because she has an attractive nuisance.
My neighbors have two young kids - 8-10 yo, I would guess. The mom told me that they would feed the horses carrots and apples, etc. I was like, “Okaaay.” But later I grew a set and went back and asked them very nicely not to feed them. All three of my horses/donks have had choke episodes. I wet all their feed. Plus, let one of my horses get a chunk of finger and I’d be in a lawsuit - despite my equine liability lawsuit and no trespassing signs. The people acted pissy about it but I haven’t seen my horses hanging out in their corner of the pasture since so I’m hopeful.
In a perfect world, I don’t know that I’d stop those kids from feeding my horses but the world’s not perfect. My horse(s) could choke or could accidentally bite. I’m not responsible for those kids. The parents are. It’s a very litigious world out there. You have to protect yourself.
Our dogs are always inside when we are not home. Too many potential hazards - theft, escape, someone harming them, etc.
If I had this type of potentially dangerous (to my dog) situation, I would either keep the dog inside or install a privacy fence (at least on the neighbor’s side) and make sure all gates were locked.
If the neighbor child unintentionally harms your dog or provokes it to bite her, you are SOL - your dog can be labelled “dangerous” and you may be sued. NOT worth the risk!
